could only press her hands to her
temples, in the vain endeavor to still their wild throbbing; then,
turning back to her own room again, she threw herself upon her knees,
and, resting her head against the bed, gave vent to her over-wrought
feelings in such groans of anguish as seldom come from the heart of one
so young. At first she could neither weep nor pray; but at length tears
came to her relief, and she poured out agonizing supplications "that her
dear, _dear_ papa might be spared, at least, until he had learned
to love Jesus, and was fit to go to heaven."

She felt as though her heart would break at the very thought of being
separated from him forever in this world, but even that was as nothing
compared to the more terrible fear of not meeting him in another.

That was a long, sad afternoon to the poor child; the longest and saddest
she had ever known. Chloe now and then brought her word how her father
was, but no one else came near her to speak a word of comfort or hope.
Towards evening they had given up almost all hope; he had ceased to
recognize any one, and one after another, parents, brother, sisters, and
servants, had been permitted to take a last look--all but little Elsie,
his own and only child--the one nearest and dearest to him, and to whom
he was all the world--she alone was forbidden to come. She had begged and
plead, in tones that might have melted a heart of stone, to be permitted
to see his face once more in life; but Mrs. Dinsmore, who had taken the
direction of everything, said, "No, her father has forbidden it, and she
shall not come unless she expresses her willingness to comply with his
conditions."

Adelaide had then ventured a plea in her behalf, but the reply was: "I
don't pity her at all; it is all her own doing."

"So much the harder is it for her to bear, I presume," urged Adelaide.

"There, Adelaide, that will do now! Let me hear no more about it,"
replied her lady mother, and there the matter dropped.

Poor little Elsie tried to be submissive and forgiving, but she could not
help feeling it terribly hard and cruel, and almost more than she could
bear, thus to be kept away from her sick and dying father.

It was long ere sleep visited her weary eyes that night; hour after hour
she lay on her pillow, pouring out prayers and tears on his behalf, until
at length, completely worn out with sorrow, she fell into a deep and
heavy slumber, from which she waked to find the morning sun str